I Want, I Want, I Need, I Need!
I've been putting off making my official New Year's resolution because there are so many things I want to get done this year and I'm afraid that by focusing on just one, the rest will fall by the wayside. Which is better - doing kind of well on lots of things or really well on one thing? So I think I'm going to just have a list of New Year suggestions and I can flit between them as my mood sees fit and maybe accomplish something as opposed to be a big failure in one thing. Here's my list of goals:
As I look at the above list, I realize most of these are more than I could hope to accomplish in 20 years but each one of them picks at my brain every day. I don't know how to prioritize them because really, I know I should concentrate right now on just keeping my kids fed and alive but I still can't shake the feeling that I could do them all if I just put some elbow grease into it.
I often feel like I want too many things for myself and I should just be happy sitting back and letting all my ambition slide for the sake of being a good mom but the modern woman in me tells me I can have it all. I know that's a lie, but it still sounds so good! How does everyone prioritize the "non-important" stuff? Is anyone making any progress on their New Year's goals? What kinds of things have you sacrificed to accommodate the more important goals in life? What things will you never sacrifice? And most importantly, has this post been sufficiently distracting to make everyone forget about that last post I put up that grossed everyone out?
Make Fertile and Fabulous a real gag mag that I could mail out quarterly with contributing writers who have great senses of humor (any volunteers to write short pieces?)
Turn Flaky Friends into a business (register it with the government and all that) and be able to write off my costs for supplies. Maybe have my toys sold in local indie toy shops?
Complete my second triathlon/get buff again.
Publish my book. I've had the manuscript of polished essays sitting around for almost a year now and the phone number of an awesome editor and am just too scared to sent it out into the world.
Teach Pixie to read. I bought a great book called, "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" that my sister-in-law swears by but I haven't even cracked the spine yet.
Participate in a local craft fair with my stuffed animals.
Have Hollywood Flakes syndicated by a major newspaper as a weekly column.
Bite the bullet and buy Flash (animation software), PhotoShop and some sweet video editing software and learn to use them all.
Learn how to fiddle with my violin.
Teach Cher tons of sign language. Pixie could do over 100 signs when she was one (here's a video of her doing some in her high chair pre anonymous name) and Cher has just started making her first signs at 10 months. I want to take the time to develop that communication with Cher as well. It's so fun seeing what babies have to say!
Get rest. Yeah, that one's not going to happen.
As I look at the above list, I realize most of these are more than I could hope to accomplish in 20 years but each one of them picks at my brain every day. I don't know how to prioritize them because really, I know I should concentrate right now on just keeping my kids fed and alive but I still can't shake the feeling that I could do them all if I just put some elbow grease into it.
I often feel like I want too many things for myself and I should just be happy sitting back and letting all my ambition slide for the sake of being a good mom but the modern woman in me tells me I can have it all. I know that's a lie, but it still sounds so good! How does everyone prioritize the "non-important" stuff? Is anyone making any progress on their New Year's goals? What kinds of things have you sacrificed to accommodate the more important goals in life? What things will you never sacrifice? And most importantly, has this post been sufficiently distracting to make everyone forget about that last post I put up that grossed everyone out?
Comments
You can write off costs anyway. You don't need to register as a business for that.
Your Bro.
I also have struggled with the feelings that I need to do it all. Yet as I pray, I feel, these words often come to me that I must surrender to motherhood. I am trying because, FOR ME (I'm not saying for you or anybody else), that is the answer I've been given. But kids also need moms that are smart, well-rounded and successful in their own right, don't they? So, I'm still trying to figure it all out. Somehow I need to be right at home and also I need to be in Haiti building a school and running community projects and...never mind...sigh...oh yeah. My mom's biggest revelation of her life, "do all that you can do happily."
I've heard that the 100 lessons thingy for teaching your kid to read is a good one. My cousin used it with her daughter and she is a freakin' genius! I should get it for my 4-year-old.
Thanks for adding something on MY to-do list!
I'd totally subscribe to Fertile and Fabulous. I'd love to write for it - but I'm not as clever as you. But I AM Fertile and Fabulous!
kibler
I love all your ambitions. Go for it.
First of all, I have that book and I used it with my oldest, until about lesson 30, when I got bored wih it. Which I'm sure you won't. :) It is a great one, and does not take a long time each day, and the kids think you're just playing with them, so it totally counts as quality time.
Call the editor. Again, will not take much time. The worst that can happen is s/he says no.
I would wait on the Flaky Friends thing until sales really take off. But who knows, maybe they are already? And I totally think you can already write off your costs now.
I'd love to send in an article or tow to Fertile & Fabulous, although I have no clue how to start a magazine. Kudos to you for even thinking it.
Little things at a time, most of the things on your list can be done, if broken down.
I'd love to write a sarcastic article on the beauty of the pregnant belly.
-the commenter formerly known as Nancy, who now posts on an anonymous blog
My resolutions had to do more with just enjoying life and not worrying about all the goals and all I wanted to do. If it's supposed to happen, I'll get around to it. But I am a recovering over-achiever. Now, I only strive to maintain a sense of inner peace and serenity. Everything else will work itself out.
Again, I thought the hairball was funny.
:)
But the good news is, I took heart after reading these comments and left a voice mail on her cell phone today for her to call. I've been jumping every time the phone rings but she hasn't responded yet.